Tetsubin, or iron teapots, were originally kitchen items used for boiling water and brewing tea. During the mid-19th century as infused tea-drinking became popular, tetsubin were no longer viewed as kitchen items, but as status symbols.
The two prefectures best known for tetsubin are Iwate, which is considered to produce the best designs and quality at a reasonable price, and Yamagata, which is best known for the handmade tetsubin and changama that are preferred by the tea ceremony masters.